The National Film Development Corporation’s (NFDC) Kerala branch office is closing its doors after 34 years of supporting the local film industry, leaving cine artists and pensioners in a precarious position. Situated in Thiruvananthapuram, the Kerala branch office was established in 1990 as part of former Chief Minister K. Karunakaran’s vision to boost Malayalam cinema and provide support to emerging filmmakers. However, NFDC recently decided to wind up all operations in Kerala by October 31, citing the branch’s failure to generate revenue.
Kerala’s film fraternity is feeling the impact of this closure, as the NFDC branch played a pivotal role in supporting regional cinema. Besides coordinating with NFDC’s Mumbai headquarters to arrange funding for Malayalam films, it was instrumental in producing critically acclaimed projects like Kaliyachan, directed by Farook A Rahiman, and Mangamma by T.V. Chandran. NFDC’s Kerala branch also managed monthly pensions for struggling cine artists, many of whom are senior citizens with limited mobility and financial resources.
Efforts to relocate the NFDC office from Kerala were made in 2012 but were thwarted by the intervention of local leaders, including Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor, who advocated for its continuation. The state government responded by providing NFDC with space at the Kerala State Film Development Corporation’s (KSFDC) Chitranjali studio complex. Despite this, NFDC headquarters reportedly neglected the Kerala branch, instead assigning the Chennai regional office to oversee interactions with filmmakers in the state.
The branch office’s closure has placed several Malayalam film scripts in limbo, with around 10 projects awaiting funding approval from NFDC headquarters. These projects have been pending for years, pushing filmmakers to either abandon their ideas or seek funding through alternative sources. According to a source close to NFDC, “Scripts of around 10 Malayalam films have been waiting for approval for years, forcing filmmakers to shelve projects or look elsewhere.” This backlog is now likely to grow as the Kerala branch’s operational support ceases.
The impact extends to the 65 financially struggling cine artists in Kerala who rely on NFDC’s monthly pension, a crucial safety net for many of these individuals. The Kerala branch was responsible for annual mustering and verification of pension documentation, processes that will become difficult for pensioners if shifted to Chennai. Most of these artists are above 75 years old and face severe limitations on traveling outside the state. N.P. Radhakrishnan Nair, general secretary of the All Kerala Cinema-Serial Artists & Workers’ Association, voiced his concerns, stating, “The next annual mustering is due in December, and pensioners have not received any communication from NFDC. Most of them are above 75 years of age and it is not possible for them to travel to Chennai for pension-related matters.”
As the office nears closure, questions remain unanswered about alternative arrangements for these senior pensioners, who now face the risk of losing essential support. TNIE’s attempts to reach NFDC Managing Director Prithul Kumar for clarification yielded no response, leaving many in the industry anxious about their future.
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The shutdown of NFDC’s Kerala branch underscores a broader issue facing regional film industries across India. With dwindling support from centralized film development agencies, regional cinema is increasingly left to navigate funding challenges on its own. Malayalam cinema, in particular, has been known for its unique storytelling and cultural richness, but without adequate funding and institutional support, the industry may struggle to sustain this reputation.
Artists and cultural activists in Kerala have expressed disappointment over the NFDC’s decision, with many calling for state intervention to protect the interests of regional cinema and support veteran artists. The state government, they argue, should work towards establishing a replacement for NFDC that can continue providing financial and logistical support to the Malayalam film industry. As it stands, the closure of NFDC’s Kerala office not only impacts filmmakers seeking project funding but also jeopardizes the livelihoods of senior artists who contributed to the cultural fabric of Malayalam cinema.
In the absence of official announcements on alternative support mechanisms for pensioners, these senior artists and the Kerala film community are left in a state of uncertainty. The closure of NFDC’s Kerala office may thus mark the end of an era for the state’s cinema, leaving both budding filmmakers and veteran artists to contend with the financial and logistical challenges of an industry now lacking institutional support.
